Blizzard is pushing a patch tomorrow--this does not have any major content updates, but a lot of hotfixes and changes visible on beta realms will be pushed onto live realms.

Bashiok

We’re planning to release a patch tomorrow that will bring the live game up-to-date with the version currently being tested on the beta realms. This includes a number of fixes and changes to address issues we've identified since the release of 6.0.2, as well as remaining assets and content to prepare for the launch of Warlords of Draenor. As we've done in prior expansions, our plan is to not require a launch-day patch, and have a smooth transition to the new expansion in North America at midnight Pacific on November 13.

Garrison Mission Calculator

Garrison missions have some pretty sweet rewards in Warlords, but you only get them if you succeed at completing the mission. Knowing which followers can counter a mission is important, and when you're first starting off, you need to prioritize leveling some followers over others.

We've built a Garrison Missions calculator to help you figure this out. With the calculator, you can plan out what followers to use on missions. Just click on a specific mission via wowhead.com/missions, insert your preferred follower, their quality, and (if needed) additional abilities/traits from upgrades.

All of the follower's abilities will be displayed and if an ability counters a mission threat, a green checkbox will appear next to it--just like in-game.

We've also given our missions pages like Banda de Ogrópolis a bit of a facelift to better resemble what you see in-game with elite portraits, unique ability icons, and more.

For our complete set of Garrison resources and guides; from basics to buildings, followers to missions, and much more, check out our Garrison Hub!

Artcraft: Environment Design

Blizzard

Hi, I’m Chris Robinson, senior art director of World of Warcraft, and welcome to a special edition of Artcraft focused on environment and zone design. Previously we showed you what it was like to create the Spires of Arak from a purely art-focused perspective, but over the coming days we’ll be releasing a series of articles focused on exterior level design, using Nagrand as a focal point. You’ll be hearing from the team who works with the artists, as well as the quest designers, systems designers, historians, and more to craft and create not only the zones we adventure in, but the visual story that is told about these locations and the creatures and races that inhabit them. For this first article, I’m pleased to introduce Julian Morris, our lead level designer.

Exterior level design is the process of designing and constructing the zones of World of Warcraft, from Azeroth to Draenor and everything in between. Our team has planned, plotted, and designed the rise and fall of ancient cultures, as well as shaped mountains, forests, seas, lakes, rivers, roads, ruins, and every land feature imaginable. In addition to the land itself, we also design and create cities, towns, and Battlegrounds (with the random exterior dungeon or two in there every now and then, too).

The level design team is a hybrid of both art and design. We work hand in hand with the quest design team to build the environmental stories that support the content that defines Azeroth’s lands, cultures, and conflicts.

We also work every step of the way with all of the art groups on the Warcraft team. Working with the environment art team, we sculpt and paint the landscapes to create the rich, vibrant settings that form the foundation of the world. Within those spaces we work with the dungeon team, designing and constructing the thousands of camps, towns, settlements, and cities that provide the unique architectural beauty that anchors all of our cultures and creatures to the world. These locations in turn provide the scenes and staging for the finely crafted set dressing—the tables, chairs, books, and more—that our prop art team creates.

Level design binds the vision of many groups together, and it takes the passionate effort of all these teams to create an incredibly detailed, hand-crafted experience.

The zones of World of Warcraft are their own main characters that come to life before our very eyes during development. In this series, we’re going to draw back the curtains a bit to show you more on how we approach world-building and how we breathe life into a zone.

Join us again tomorrow as senior level designer Michael (Mac) McInerney gives you a deeper look into the level design of World of Warcraft using Nagrand from Warlords of Draenor.

New TV Spots

Over the weekend, Blizzard released several new TV spots for Warlords of Draenor.

Blizzard

Your airwaves are about to be invaded by the Iron Horde with our latest Warlords of Draenor commercials. Check them out below, but word to the wise: it’s best to try not to make eye contact.

Comentario de PragmaticSoul

on 2014-10-27T12:32:44-05:00

I thought that there was a recent tweet/post from Blizzard that the "Exhausting" (3 followers needed, have to have the exact correct traits, need to be level 100, have minimum iLvl armor and weapons, requires 8 hours, etc.) requirement had been toned down?

Comentario de perculia

on 2014-10-27T12:35:46-05:00

The Exhausting changes are not up on the beta yet, so our data can't reflect it. Just checked and a few still have that orange text.

Comentario de matheus314

on 2014-10-27T12:51:59-05:00

sorry to steal a comment from the wow posting, but it has to be shown here...

Comentario de ceylina

I find the lack of patch notes disturbing. As if a million voices suddenly yelled out "OMG NERF WARRIORS (some more)!"

Comentario de AridholBWL

on 2014-10-27T16:34:12-05:00

Where can we find notes for the changes? I assume we will see some rebalancing as well?

Comentario de Cloudbomb

on 2014-10-27T18:25:18-05:00

Excellent Garrison guides! For something as large and with as many options the new Garrisons have, it's fantastic to have such an early head-start on planning my farming and building using these new tools.